TNF and atherosclerosis: Abdominal adipose tissue synthesizes and secretes several mediators and cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor α (TNF α), intracellular carriers of glucose (GLUTs), gamma receptors activated by peroxisome proliferator (PPARγ) and resistin, that participate in mechanisms that lead to dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, hypertension and atherosclerosis.